A brief chat with... Bill Snelling
The path for work and motorcycles is rarely straightforward, but makes for some great times, as Bill Snelling’s just-released book confirms.
Race visitors to the Isle of Man have regularly made the pilgrimage to Laxey Woollen Mills, where a superb collection of TT and Manx GP photographs are exhibited for the delight of anyone interested in the unique atmosphere created by these races. The archive behind the exhibition is vast and ensures the displays are always fresh. It does require some knowledge in order to produce such displays and clearly Bill Snelling has such a depth of knowledge.
Such knowledge doesn’t just appear from nowhere, it has to be learned, acquired, realised and usually involves mates and experiences.
When the family you’re born into uses a sidecar as transport, you’ve not really got a chance, and as possibly befits someone with an obsession for motorcycles, Bill’s education in our world took a step forward when he and the world of formal education parted ways. “I joined a chap called Arthur Lavington. Arthur had been at Stevens Velocette dealers in London but had set up on his own… first job when I started,
Venom clutch!”
There does come a time in a motorcyclist’s life when thoughts of sporting glory arise and, yes, there are those who reach superstardom – but many more don’t. Inspired by his godfather, Bill had a go at racing but it wasn’t just the tarmac sport which Bill tried, the world of trials riding – both long distance MCC stuff as well as observation trials such as run by the VMCC – attracted him as a competitor. “I felt as experience grew, I became less bad at the sporting world and was never frightened to have a try at sports. I had a go at just about all.”
A change of working tack came when
Bill, by this time living in the Isle of Man, had to return to the ‘other’ island when his father became poorly, joining Motorcycle Sport. This position did provide the opportunity for Bill to enjoy a few perks, such as Pirelli’s test days in Italy where a Fantic trials bike was aimed at 45 gallon oil drums, its rider realising the drums had not been pegged down…
These days Bill resides in the Isle of
Man where he assists the Manx Museum in recording for posterity all things Manx, especially – but not exclusively – the motorcycle side of the Island. The impetus for recording his own memoirs for posterity came when recovering from a hip operation in hospital.
Easy one to begin with Bill, what’s your full name and how old are you?
I am William ‘Bill’ Snelling and I’m aged 73. Currently riding crutches due to a crumbling knee. A heart issue last July means they won’t operate on me for six months, so that will be five years crutch-mounted.
You’re based in the Isle of Man but you’re not a Manxman, so where are you from?
Depending on your viewpoint, I’m either a Kentish Man or a Man of Kent! I was born in Royal Tunbridge Wells, even though we resided in Maidstone. Perhaps I arrived early!
I feel I already know the answer to this one, but do you hail from a motorcycling family?
Yes, my dad rode or drove sidecars for most of his life. The two Vincents he had are what I remember – HHR 451 and RGW 798, which was a Series D Rapide.
So were you encouraged into the scene?
Yes, sort of. My godfather, Stan Lewis raced a [Velocette] Mk.VIII KTT and we used to go to Brands to watch him race, that’s what whetted the appetite.
Family apart, is there anyone who can be said to have encouraged your two-wheeled interests?
Possibly Arthur Lavington, where I went to work after dislodging myself from school. Arthur rode in the TT, did road trials, longdistance trials and I followed suit, but only got as far as the Manx GP.
Dead blunt here… sidecars… yes or no?
Not for me! I cut a Cortina in half during my only three-wheel foray but I appreciate the engineering and riding skill of those who take to three wheels.
You’ve had a varied working career but has it always involved motorcycles?
Yes, mainly, but other wage-paying jobs occasionally appeared on the financial horizon, such as working at the Lucas depot of E B Christian’s, North Quay Douglas and Geoff Duke Wholesale.
How did you become involved in the magazine side of things?
I had returned to your Island when my father was ailing. Looking round for a job, I was pointed to the ad-man post of Motorcycle Sport. At that time run by Cyril Ayton alone, I was the second member of staff. It was not lucrative – people loved ‘Sport’ but its readership was too small to gather the main advertisers. I left to make a lucrative living dispatch riding. Wouldn’t do it now for a big salary, it’s a young man’s game!
A variety of motorcycle sport has featured quite highly in your life, is there any branch of sport you’ve not tried?
Yes, ice racing! I’d love to have tried it. I would like to have got ‘less worse’ at some disciplines too and a 90mph lap at the Manx would have been an achievement in those days for someone described by a tailor as a ‘short portly.’ I missed the ‘90’ by seven seconds.
It is clear you’re keen on the Isle of Man and the exhibitions are a popular calling in point for visitors, how did you come to be involved in this aspect of Manx life?
I was talking to John Wood at his Laxey Woollen Mills when he was clearing the top loom room. I made the comment it would make a good exhibition venue. He agreed and I held 10 TT/MGP exhibitions there, meeting thousands of fellow motorcyclists. With around a quarter of a million TT/MGP pictures in our ‘vaults,’ I am able to select a new collection each year. All the exhibition images can be viewed on my (Bill Snelling) Facebook page. We mutually agreed to move the exhibition when the next TT/MGP are held – watch this space!
Do you have a favourite era of motorcycling?
I think the 1950s and 60s, mainly in racing, with the Italians and Germans scrapping with the Brit bikes, then the arrival of all the Japanese makes, some with German technology. Just look how far they have got!
Final question I always ask any interviewee is: ‘What’s your favourite motorcycle of all time, doesn’t matter if you’ve owned an example of it or not?’
I suppose The Flintstone, my home-lashedtogether Velo special with a Scrambler frame and MSS motor. It gave me some cracking rides in the MCC long-distance trials, many awards. I think I am the only rider to win the MCC Championship two years running.